Page 394 of Rogue Riders Duet

He shrugs like we’re about to hit a practice lap instead of the final World Cup race. “Not really. I’m just here to have fun, honestly.”

“Fun we will have.” Luc chuckles. “How about we make it a little more fun, though?”

Mason looks intrigued. “What are you saying?”

“Let’s up the stakes.”

I groan. “You guys are children.”

Since we all started racing under the same team banner and actually like each other, our competitive streaks needed a new outlet. Which means now everything is a bet. Who pulls the best line. Who qualifies highest. Who wins.

Anything to keep the fire burning.

Luc tilts his head innocently. “Loser takes it in the ass tonight.”

Mason’s head jerks toward him. “No.”

But Luc is already hopping off his bike, laughing as he swings it off the roller. “Sounds like you better not get third, hmm, Payne?”

“Is it even a bet when you enjoy the punishment?” Mason scoffs, but Luc is already sauntering off, yelling over his shoulder.

“To finish first, you have to finish first!”

“Don’t let him do that,” Mason pleads, turning to me, eyes wide with mild panic.

I laugh. “Sounds like you really should win today.”

Luc glances back to see why we’re not following and yells again, “Don’t worry, Pretty Boy, I’ll bring the lube!”

Mason’s eyes widen even more at that, and I bark out a laugh, but when I don’t step in, defend him, or try to bargain for a different bet, he just sighs, gets off his bike, and shakes his head.

I hiccup once more, and Mason steps in front of me, locking his dark eyes with mine. He lifts one hand, cups my cheek gently, and lets his thumb glide across my cheekbone.

I hiccup again, and he chuckles.

“If I’m going in third today…” he murmurs, eyes locked on my lips, “… and I’ve got to take it up the ass, then the only thing I’m gonna take is that pink dildo. And only by your hand.”

My eyes go wide, and heat floods my face, and, yeah, lower. My thighs press together on instinct, and suddenly I’m very aware of the absence of the socks I don’t need anymore.

Mason watches my reaction like he’s cataloging every detail. His smirk sharpens into something dangerous. “Will you be a good girl and do that for me?”

Fuck.

He knows exactly what he’s doing, knows how to get under my skin. I’m almost sure he’s doing it to throw me off my game, to make sure he won’t finish third today, so I open my mouth to accuse him when it hits me.

He is doing it on purpose but not for the reason I thought.

“You said that to distract me,” I mutter.

He brushes his thumb along my cheek again, slower this time. “Did it work?”

I wait for a beat, but the nerves don’t come back. At least, not more than what’s normal before a race, and the urge to hiccup is gone.

A small, real smile tugs at my lips. “Yeah. It did.”

His smirk softens into something almost tender. “Good.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.